Apparatus and method for controlling and supplying power to electrical devices in high risk environments

Abstract

An integrated power hub and device controller apparatus, and associated operational method, are operable to control and supply power to electrical devices that operate in environments which create a high risk for the electrical devices to generate stray voltages and currents. According to one embodiment, the apparatus includes a plurality of converter circuits, a controller, and a communication interface. The converter circuits convert input AC power to DC power such that each converter circuit provides a DC output voltage for a respective electrical device. The converter circuits may be configured (e.g., with toroidal step-down transformers) so as to mitigate stray currents from flowing between the electrical devices. The controller is operable to generate control signals so as to at least partially control operations of the electrical devices. The communication interface is operably coupled to the controller and operable to provide the control signals to the electrical devices.

1 . An integrated power hub and device controller apparatus for controlling and supplying power to a plurality of electrical devices that operate in environments which create a high risk for the plurality of electrical devices to generate stray voltages and currents, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of converter circuits that convert input alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power, each converter circuit providing a DC output voltage for a respective electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices, the plurality of converter circuits being configured so as to mitigate stray currents from flowing between the plurality of electrical devices;   a controller operable to generate control signals so as to at least partially control operations of the plurality of electrical devices; and   a communication interface operably coupled to the controller and operable to provide the control signals to the plurality of electrical devices.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical devices are used in connection with an aquatic system. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the aquatic system includes at least one of a swimming pool and a fountain. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a housing that surrounds the plurality of converter circuits and the controller, wherein the housing is installable near the aquatic system.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of electrical devices are controllable to create visual effects with respect to the aquatic system and wherein the control signals cause the plurality of electrical devices to create the visual effects. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the DC output voltage from each converter circuit is substantially identical. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each converter circuit includes a step-down transformer. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is a RS485 serial interface. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 provide polling signals to the communication interface for communication to the plurality of electrical devices;   receive one or more responses to the polling signals from a respective one or more of the plurality of electrical devices via the communication interface; and   determine which of the plurality of electrical devices are electrically coupled to the apparatus based on the one or more responses.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the polling signals include requests for information from the plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein an electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices includes memory operable to store data relating to the electrical device and wherein a polling signal directed to the electrical device includes a request for at least some of the data. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is further operable to receive the data from the electrical device via the communication interface and compare at least some of the data to associated thresholds. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising memory, wherein the controller is further operable to determine power usage data for each of the plurality of electrical devices and store the power usage data in the memory. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further operable to indicate statuses of the plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second communication interface operably coupled to the controller and operable to receive host control signals from a remote host device,   wherein the controller is operable to generate one or more of the control signals in response to the host control signals.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a timer operably coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further operable to generate one or more of the control signals based on an output of the timer.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dusk-dawn sensor coupled to the controller, wherein the controller is further operable to generate one or more of the control signals based on an output of the dusk-dawn sensor.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further operable to generate the control signals so as to individually control operations of the plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         19 . An integrated power hub and device controller apparatus for controlling and supplying power to a plurality of electrical devices that are used in connection with an aquatic system, the apparatus comprising:
 an alternating current (AC) power input for receiving AC power from an external power source;   a plurality of converter circuits electrically coupled to the AC power input and operable to convert the received AC power to direct current (DC) power, each converter circuit providing a respective DC output voltage for a respective electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices, each of the plurality of converter circuits including a step-down transformer so as to mitigate stray currents from flowing between the plurality of electrical devices;   a plurality of DC power output connectors, each DC power output connector being electrically coupled to a respective converter circuit of the plurality of converter circuits and supplying the respective DC output voltage to the respective electrical device;   a controller operable to generate control signals that cause the plurality of electrical devices to create visual effects with respect to the aquatic system; and   a communication interface operably coupled to the controller and operable to provide the control signals to the plurality of electrical devices.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further operable to:
 provide polling signals to the communication interface for communication to the plurality of electrical devices;   receive one or more responses to the polling signals from a respective one or more of the plurality of electrical devices via the communication interface; and   determine which of the plurality of electrical devices are electrically coupled to the apparatus based on the one or more responses.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the polling signals include requests for information from the plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein an electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices includes memory operable to store data relating to the electrical device and wherein a polling signal directed to the electrical device includes a request for at least some of the data. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising memory, wherein the controller is further operable to determine power usage data for each of the plurality of electrical devices and store the power usage data in the memory. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a second communication interface operably coupled to the controller and operable to receive host control signals from a remote host device,   wherein the controller is operable to generate one or more of the control signals in response to the host control signals.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is further operable to generate the control signals so as to individually control operations of the plurality of electrical devices. 
     
     
         26 . An integrated power hub and device controller apparatus for controlling and supplying power to a plurality of electrical devices that operate in environments which create a high risk for the plurality of electrical devices to generate stray voltages and currents, the apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of converter circuits that convert input alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power, each converter circuit providing a DC output voltage for a respective electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices, each converter circuit including a step-down transformer and being configured so as to mitigate stray currents from flowing between the plurality of electrical devices;   a first communication interface operable to receive host control signals from a remote host device;   a controller operably coupled to the first communication interface and operable to generate device control signals in response to the host control signals so as to at least partially control operations of the plurality of electrical devices; and   a second communication interface operably coupled to the controller and operable to provide the device control signals to the plurality of electrical devices.   
     
     
         27 . A method for an integrated power hub and device controller apparatus to control and supply power to a plurality of electrical devices that operate in environments which create a high risk for the plurality of electrical devices to generate stray voltages and currents, the method comprising:
 receiving alternating current (AC) power from a single AC power source;   converting the received AC power into a plurality of substantially isolated direct current (DC) output voltages;   supplying each DC output voltage to a respective one of the plurality of electrical devices;   generating control signals for at least partially controlling operations of the plurality of electrical devices; and   communicating the control signals to the plurality of electrical devices.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 communicating polling signals to each of the plurality of electrical devices;   receiving one or more responses to the polling signals from a respective one or more of the plurality of electrical devices; and   determining which of the plurality of electrical devices are electrically coupled to the apparatus based on the one or more responses.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising:
 determining that an electrical device is not electrically coupled to the apparatus when a response to a polling signal communicated to the electrical device is not received.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein an electrical device of the plurality of electrical devices includes memory operable to store data relating to the electrical device and wherein a polling signal communicated to the electrical device includes a request for at least some of the data. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising:
 receiving a host control signal from a remotely located host device; and   generating at least one of the control signals responsive to the host control signal.